Sensitive pressure tape dispenser



May 18, 1954 w. H. DoNKlN sENsITIvE PRESSURE TAPE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1955 II lr \NVENTOR -WILLIAM H. DONKIN lll/lill lll/lll .2'

ATTO R N EY May 18, 1954 w. H. DoNKlN SENSITIVE PRESSURE TAPE DISPENSER Filed March 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM H. DONKN ATTORN EY Patented May 18, 1954 2,678,777 SENSITIVE PRESSURE TAPE DISPENSER William H. Donkin,

Ealing, London, England, as-

signor to Rexel Products of Canada, Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application March 17, 1953, Serial No. 342,897

16 Claims.

This invention deals with an improved and serviceable tape dispenser of the type comprising a container having tubular means for supporting a roll of tape and embodying a serrated jaw spaced from the tubular means to permit an unwound free end of the roll of tape to be temporarily secured thereto or severed thereby. One of the objects of the invention resides in the pro-- vision of a container in the form of a hollow cylindrical shell having one closed side integral with an annular rim interrupted by an appreciable gap adapted to be open or shut by the jaw or closure which is pivoted on the lower part of the rim. Another object is realized in the provision of means for removably locking the swingable closure or jaw in its fully open or shut relation with the interrupted rim. More speciiically another object resides in the provision of a cover removably associated with the rim and swingable closure to maintain the roll of tape within the shell. Another important object resides in the provision of a substantially disc shaped cover having a concentrically arranged tubular nipple embodying resilient and flexible but spaced diametrically disposed arms including radially and laterally extending lips adapted to be actuated by the wall of the bore of the tubular means of the shell for automatically shifting or flexing the spaced arms towards each other when urged through the bore by the operator actuating the cover and subsequently when the lips become free of the tubular means, the spaced arms automatically shift outwardly or radially due to resilient retraction of the spaced arms for removably engaging the closed side of the shell to preclude lateral displacement of the cover away from the rim of the shell. Another object is to utilize the cover to removably lock the swingable jaw or closure to the interrupted annular rim. A iurther object is to preclude rotationof the cover relative to the rim pursuant tc locking of the swingable closure by the cover. Another object is to provide a novel sensitive pressure tape dispenser preferably of a suitable plastic and adapted to be conveniently carried in a closed and locked relation in a pocket of the operator and after removal from the pocket, the swingable closure may be readily shifted to its open position by linger pressure on the part of the operator. Ancther salient object is concerned with a demountable tape dispenser wherein both the swingable tape supporting closure or jaw and the locking cover may be readily and completely disconnected from or subsequently assembled with the shell.

Other salient objects and 2 functional structural features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed speciiications considered in the light oi the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the tape dispenser according to my invention, illustrating the swingable unwound tape support closed and locked.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the swingable support in a fully open but locked position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse and horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tape dispenser, shown open and depicting the manner in which it is held during dispensing operations.

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view on the line '1 -'l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 1A is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 8-3 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser.

`Illustrative of the embodiment disclosed, the tape dispenser TD comprises a one piece shell or container S characterized by an annular rim R. integrally merged with the disc shaped annular side wall Ill embodying the concentrically arranged inwardly overhanging tubular portion Il constituting a support for the tubular core C of a roll of pressure sensitive tape TP.

Appreciably interrupting rim R is the cutaway portion or gap CA (Fig. 9) adapted to be opened and closed by the swingable one piece unwound tape supporting member TS which embodies a front arcuate wall l2 substantially complementary to rim R. Speciiically the tape supporting member TS may be considered as a conveniently accessible closure or jaw wherein the lower part of the arcuate front wall i2 is integrally merged with the cylindrical pin or pintle P provided with laterally extending and reduced outer ends i3 and I4.

Extending laterally of rim R at the lower part ofV gap CA is the arcuate bearing B which serves to rotatably support pintle P having its cylindrical reduced end i4 removably receivable in opening l5 of ear E integrally merged with rim R and side wall` I!) of shell S.

Forming a part of closure or jaw TS and extending substantially normal to and rearwardly of its iront arcuate wall I2 is the wing W which is movable against the outside surface of wall I and has arcuate slot I6 removably receiving the outwardly extending guide pin or projection 'Il' merged with and projecting from wall I.

Of interest, it should be observed that the lower part of the arcuate closure wall l2 is slightly cutaway to provide the relief and positioning notch iii (Fig. 9) for removably receiving ear E to permit the lower side face portion I9 of wall I 2 to be arranged flush with the outer surface of wall I0 of shell S when shoulder 23 of pintle P and the alined vertical face 2| of notch I3 meet ear E after reduced portion i4 is located in opening or perforation I5 of ear E.

Towards the upper end of the tape support TS is the ledge L rabbeted as shown and having the toothed face TF slightly below the upper surface 22 which together with the lower face 23 of the upper part of annular rim R form a relatively narrow slot SL (Fig. 7A) to permit the unwound end UE of the roll of tape TP to pass through and into and through throat T defined by the outwardly extending lip or guard LP merged with annular rim R and the rabbeted ledge L of the swingable closure or free end tape support TS, which in Figs. 1 and '7 is shown in a shut relation, that is, with the front arcuate wall I2 across and closing cutaway portion CA and substantially complementary to rim R at which time faces 22 and 23 are just slightly spaced apart (Fig. 7A).

Swingable closure or jaw TS is held shut by post or posterior stop 24 cooperating with the curved end wall 25 of the arcuate slot I6 in wing W which has its lower beveled end or relief cutaway portion 26 spaced from and above ear E to allow tilting of wing W relative to ear E when arranging cylindrical reduced end I4 of pin P in opening or perforation I5 of ear E in assembly of closure TS and shell S.

With reduced end I4 within opening I5, wing W can be tilted outwardly away from wall I0 of shell S and thereafter swung to permit both anterior projection I'I and posterior post or stud 24 to be received within and at the ends of slot I 6 in wing W as shown in Fig. 1, anterior projection I1 cooperating with curved end 26 to limit inward displacement of the swingable tape support or jaw TS at which time also corner CR (Figs. 1 and 9) thereof is arranged within relief notch N and the tape support or closure TS is fully shut and as previously stated held in such position and against accidental outward displacement by the rear post 24 acting as a stop against end 25 of slot I6 while front end 23 of slot IE cooperates with projection I 'I to limit outward displacement of closure or tape support TS when the latter is unlocked from stop 24 and moved to a fully opened position.

Annular rim R has one side closed by wall I0 and the side 30 of the rim opposite to wall I2 is open as shown in Fig. 9 but is adapted to be closed by the disc shaped cover 3| having the circumferential ange F closely but removably tting over annular rim R.

Flange F is interrupted by gap GP (Fig. 4) having upper and lower faces 32 and 33 closely but removably straddling lip or guard LP and bearing B projecting from rim R, thus serving to prevent rotation of cover 3| relative to the shell S. However before mounting cover 3| on rim R, the free end tape supporting member or swingable closure TS is journalled on the rim R as previously pointed out.

According to the invention cover 3| is a one 4 piece member preferably, as in the case of both shell or container S and the swingable closure TS, of a suitable plastic material, and embodies the annular boss 34 (Figs. 5 and 8) from which extends the annular bushing or nipple 35 integrally merged with the diametrically spaced and resilient and exible arms 36 each having a laterally or radially extending lip or lug 3'I adapted -to snap over and yieldingly engage side I0 of shell S (Fig. 1), thus automatically locking cover 3| against transverse displacement when on the shell at which time core C (Figs. 5 and 7) of the roll of tape TP is rotatable on tubular portion II and is conned between boss 34 of cover 3| and boss 38 of side wall Ill (Fig. 5).

In the assembled relation of the container or shell S, tubular portion I| also closely but removably telescopes over nipple 35 of cover 3|. The swingable closure TS has spaced ribs 40 on the inside surface of wall I2 thereof to resist sticking of loop 39 ofthe unwound part of the tape against this surface. Loop 39 provides desirable and adequate slack to permit easy opening of closure TS from its shut position (Fig. 7).

Brieiy recapitulating, with the tape dispenser TD unassembled as illustrated in Fig. 9, the roll tape TP can be readily positioned on the tubular support II, before or after swingable closure or free end tape support TS is journalled to the shell S. Of course in assembled relation, arcuate wall I2 and its merged wing W straddle side wall ID of the shell if it is taken in consideration that ear E is a part of side wall II. The free end UE may now be grasped and unrolled from the roll of tape and placed against the uninterrupted face 22 and toothed face TF of closure TS, leaving the front margin thereof extending outwardly beyond this toothed face as indicated in Fig. '7, allowing quick access thereto. Closure or jaw TS is now swung shut, forming the loop 39. Thereafter, closure disc 3| is mounted on shell S. This is accomplished by inserting locking lugs 3l' into the bore BR of the tubular tape roll support This can be effected in that after one of the lugs 37 is inserted into this bore, it is utilized to cooperate with the wall of the latter to iiex its resilient arm inwardly, thus permitting the other lug to be received within bore BR. Subsequently cover 3| is moved towards side wall I0 and if necessary rotated relative to rim R until opening or perforation 4I of ear or lobe 42 which is integral with cover 3| lines up with reduced cylindrical portion I3 of the fulcrum pin P at which time lips or lugs 31 snap against the outer surface of side wall I0 (Fig. 1), consequently locking cover 3| to shell S, and against rotation relative to the latter in view of ear 42 interlocking with pin P and faces 32 and 33 of interrupted ange F straddling lip or guard LP and bearing B.

As previously stated, post 24 holds closure TS against accidental opening. Even in this relation, the protruding margin of the free end UE of the pressure section tape T may be grasped and pulled outwardly to unroll the length of tape desired to be subsequently severed by the teeth defining the toothed face TF. In the majority of instances, it is desirable to have swingable closures TS fully opened during unwinding or dispensing. Hence closure TS is shifted to the position illustrated in Fig. 3 from its closed position shown in Figs. l and 5 wherein posterior corner 43 of wing W extends across or overlaps a part of bore BR of shell S. This is achieved by applying thumb pressure under the curved corner 43, thus slightly ilexing and lifting wing W over post 24 and over the intermediate projection or stop 44 integral with side wall I@ whereby7 the wing W is removably interposed between the outer or front stop or projection i1 and the intermediate stop 44. Stop it serves to prevent accidental rearward shifting of the swingable closure TS when fully opened while projection i1 limits outward displacement of this closure. Stop 4t has the inclined cam face to automatically lift corner 43 to easily clear the front part of stop 44. In addition, projections I1 and 45 may be said to interlock and straddle a part of wing W to hold closure or jaw TS in a set open position.

After a length of tape is withdrawn and severed, the free end of the roll is then stuck against faces 22 and TF of ledge L. Rearwardly directed iinger pressure on the part of the operator against front wall i2 causes closure TS to swing to its shut position and concomitantly its wing W over and beyond the intermediate stop M and over and beyond the posterior stop or projection 2d. This action is possible in that the posterior inclined side E of ing W is rounded and beveled, and there is slight play in the hinged connection defined by caring B and fulcrum pin P and also due to the fact posterior stop 24 is also beveled as shown. With the closure TS shut, wing W has shifted to its fully retracted position as shown in l and 5 in which case posterior stop or projection 2li serves to preclude accidental opening of closure TS.

In the event the roll of tape is used up, and a fresh roll is to be substituted, the dispenser TP may be readily opened by urging lips or lugs 31 towards each other by ringer pressure. This operation correspondingly exes the spaced resilient and flexible arms 36 towards each other, and due to the outward thrust imparted by arms 3c against the wall of bore BR automatically arranging the spaced lugs or lips 3l within bore BR of roll support ii, and also automatically shifting the perforated ear or lobe 42 of cover 3l out of engagement with the reduced end i3 of pin P. The cover is now unlocked from shell S and its spaced arms 35 are withdrawn from support i i by the operator pulling outwardly on cover 3 i. Upon complete withdrawal from tubular support il, these arms 3G automatically retract. Also after such complete withdrawal, cover 3i is completely removed from the shell S. Hence access may be readily had to the interior of the shell and particularly te tubular support il thereof, for removing the exhausted roll of tape and substituting a fresh roll in its place, after which the cover Sil can again be ouiclrlv assembled to disengageably interlock with shell S.

Diverging from and integral with rim R are the spaced hns or legs el adapted to support the dispenser TD on a supporting surface SS, if desired during dispensing operations, although generally the dispenser is preferably held in one hand of the operator in such cases while the other hand is used to unwind the roll at a time when the closure TS is fully opened (Fig. 6).

By the arrangement disclosed, the dispenser when not in use may be desirably carried in a pocket of clothing or positioned on an appropriate supporting surface as SS.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein and in the method hereinbefore set forth.

l claim:

l. A dispenser for a roll of tape, comprising; a shell having an interrupted annular rim deiining a gap, a side wall integral with said rim and having tubular means within said shell and spaced from said rim for removably and rotatably supporting said roll, a closure having an arcuate wall to fit across said gap and having means to hold the free end of the tape of said roll, means swingably supporting said closure on said rim to permit displacement of said arcuate wall out of said gap and in a direction outwardaway from said rim or in a direction towards said rim and into said gap, means to limit swingable displacement of said closure in a direction away from said rim, means for locking said closure on reaching its maximum outward swingable displacement, means to limit swingabie dicplacement of said closure in a direction towards said rim to locate said arcuate wall substantially fully across said gap, and means for locking said closure against displacement relative to said shell when said arcuate wall is substantially fully across said gap.

2. A. dispenser for a roll of tape comprising; a shell having a transversely arranged interrupted annular rim defining a gap, a side wall integral with said rim and having tubular means within said shell and spaced from said rim for removably and rotatably supporting said roll, a closurehaving an arcuate wall to t across said gap and having means to hold the free end of the tape of said roll, said side wall and arcuate wall having means swingably supporting said closure on said rim to permit displacement of said arcuate wall out of said gap and in a direction outwardly away from said rim or in a direction toward said rim and into said gap, means to limit swingable displacement of said closure in a direction away from said rim, means for locking said closure on reaching its maximum outward swingacle displacement, means to limit swingabe displacement of said closure in a direction towards said rim to locate said arcuate Wall substantially fully across said gap, and means for locking said closure against displacement relative to said shell when said arcuate `avall is substantially fully across said gap.

`3. A dispenser for a roll of tape, comprising; a shell having a transversely arranged annular rim defining a gap, a side wall integral with said rim and having tubular means within said shell and spaced from said rim for removably and rotatably supporting said roll, a closure embodying an arcuate wall to nt across said gap and having a ledge and toothed means to hold or sever the free end of the tape of said roll and embodying a wing substantially normal to and integral with said arcuate wall, said side wall and arcuate wall having means swingably supporting said closure on said rim to permit displacement of said arcuate wall out of said gap and in a direction away from said rim or in a direction towards said rim and into said gap, said side wall and wing having means to limit the swingable displacement of said closure in a direction outwardly away from said rim, said side wall and wing having means for removably locking said closure on reaching its maximum outward swingable displacement, said side wall and wing having means to limit swingable displacement of said closure in a direction towards said rim to locate said arcuate wall substantially fully across said gap, and said side wall and wing having means for removably locking said closure against displacement relative to said side wall when said arcuate wall is substantially fully across said gap.

4. A dispenser for a roll of tape, comprising; a shell having a transversely arranged annular rim dening a gap, a side wall integral with said rim and having tubular means within said shell and spaced from said rim for removably and rotatably supporting said roll, a closure embodying an arcuate wall to t across said gap and having a ledge and toothed means to hold or sever the free end of the tape unwound from said roll and embodying a wing substantially normal to and integral with said arcuate wall and disposed outside of and contiguous to said side wall, said side wall having a bearing, said arcuate wall having Vpin means rotatably supported by said bearing to swingably hold said closure on said rim to permit displacement of said arcuate wall out of said gap and in a direction outwardly away from said rim or in a direction towards said rim and into said gap, said side wall having spaced front and rear stops, said wing having an arcuate guide slot receiving said stops and embodying ends cooperating with said stops to removably look said closure against displacement relative to said side wall and maintain said arcuate wall across said gap.

5. The dispenser according to claim 4 wherein said side wall embodies a centrally arranged bore and said wing has an accessible posterior portion overlapping said bore, said accessible portion adapted to be actuated under nger pressure for swinging said closure in an outwardly direction away from said rim whereby said wing rides over said rear stop to free said slot from the lattei` and rides towards and against said front stop, the latter cooperating with the rear end of said slot to limit displacement of said closure outwardly in a direction away from said rim.

6. The dispenser according to claim 5 characterized in that said side wall embodies a projection spaced from and between said stops and constituting means with said front stop for removably locking said closure against displacement in a direction towards said rim.

7. The dispenser according to claim 6 further characterized in that said projection is provided with a cam to facilitate lifting of said wing thereover on displacement of said closure in a direction away from said rear stop.

8. The dispenser according to claim '7, wherein said side wall embodies a perforated ear integral therewith and said bearing, and said pin means includes a reduced cylindrical portion removably and rotatably receivable in said ear.

9. The dispenser according to claim 3 wherein said wing has a relief cutaway portion at the lower part thereof to be free of said ear and said arcuate wall has a relief notch to permit removable reception of said ear therein.

l0. The dispenser according to claim 4 wherein said ledge is disposed at the upper part of said arcuate wall and said rim embodies a lip spaced slightly above said ledge and defining therewith a throat adapted to pass the free end of said tape.

1l. A dispenser for a roll of tape, comprising; a shell having a transversely arranged interrupted annular rim defining a gap and defining an opening, an annular side wall opposite to said opening and integral with said rim and having concentrically arranged tubular means within said shell and spaced from said rim for removv ably and rotatably supporting said roll, a closure having an arcuate wall to fit across said gap and having means to hold the free end of the tape of said roll, means swingably supporting said closure on said rim .to permit displacement of said arcuate wall out of said gap and in a direction outwardly away from said rim or in a direction towards said rim and into said gap, means to limit swingable displacement of said closure in a direction away from said rim, means for removably locking said closure on reaching its maximum outward swingable displacement, means to limit swingable displacement of said closure in a direction towards said rim to locate said arcuate wall substantially fully across said gap, means for removably locking said closure against displacement relative to said shell when said arcuate wall is substantially fully across said gap, and a disc shaped cover for closing said opening and having means for removably receiving a part of said rim, and means for detachably locking said cover to said shell.

l2. A dispenser for a roll of tape, comprising; a shell having a transversely arranged annular rim defining a gap and defining an opening, an annular side wall opposite to said opening and integral with said rim and having concentrically arranged tubular means within said shell and spaced from said rim for removably and rotatably supporting said roll, a closure embodying an arcuate wall to removably nt across said gap and having a ledge and toothed means to hold or sever the free end of the tape of said roll and embodying a wing substantially normal to and integral with said arcuate wall, said annular side wall and arcuate wall having means swingably and removably supporting said closure on said rim to permit displacement of said arcuate wall out of said gap and in a direction away from said rim or in a direction towards said rim and into said gap, said annular side wall and wing having means to limit the swingable displacement of said closure in a direction outwardly away from said rim, said annular side wall and wing having means for removably locking said closure on reaching its maximum outward swingable displacement, said annular side wall and wing having means to limit swingable displacement of said closure in a direction towards said rim to locate said arcuate wall substantially fully across said gap, said annular side wall and wing having means for removably locking said closure against displacement relative to said rim when said arcuate wall is substantially fully across said gap, a, disc shaped cover for closing said opening and having means for removably receiving a part of said rim, and spaced resilient and flexible arms extending from said cover and removably insertable in said tubular means and having outwardly extending lips cooperating with the wall of the bore of said tubular means for automatically urging said arms towards each other upon shifting of said cover towards said opening, said lips when free of the wall of said bore automatically moving away from each other due to the resiliency of said arms and removably interlocking with said annulal` side wall to hold said cover closed relative to said opening.

13. The dispenser according to claim l2 wherein said cover has a concentrically arranged tubular nipple for removably telescoping within said tubular means and said spaced arms extend from said nipple.

14. The dispenser according to claim 13 wherein the means swingably and removably supporting the closure on said rim comprises a bearing member at the lower part of said gap and a cylindrical pin removably supported by said bearing member and having reduced means rotatably and removably confined in said annular side wall and having a reduced cylindrical portion, and ysaid cover having a perforated lobe adapted to removably receive said reduced cylindrical portion after said lips interlockwith said annular side wall.

15. The dispenser according to claim 14 Wheren said rim is provided with a guard above and slightly spaced from said ledge and said cover embodies a peripheral gap having upper and lower end faces cooperating with said bearing member and guard to preclude rotation of said cover relative to said rim.

16. The dispenser according to claim l5 where- 15 in said rim embodies at the lower part thereof spaced and. outwardly diverging ns spaced substantially equidistant from the vertical axis of said annular rim.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,818,514 Whitaker Aug. 11, 1931 2,171,648 Ennis et a1 Sept. 5, 1939 2,253,744 Witt Aug. 26, 1941 2,295,648 Gillanders et a1. Sept. 15, 1942 2,476,593 Gerbing July 19, 1949 2,600,904 Morgan June 17, 1952 

